Medicine Hat's Tyler Pitlick could be on the verge of claiming his spot on the U.S. junior squad.
Medicine Hat Tigers forward Tyler Pitlick could be on the verge of claiming his spot on the American squad in the world junior tournament. Pitlick is lighting the lamp and helping buoy the surge from the Tigers in the home stretch before the holiday break.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
The Majors took on the challenge of three games in three nights admirably. The MasterCard Memorial Cup hosts won each game to extend their winning-streak to six games. Mississauga's last regulation loss came on Oct. 22 against the Saginaw Spirit, an unbeaten streak of 14 games.
Cold team: Peterborough Petes
The losses continued to mount for the once-mighty Petes. The team predicted to contend for the Eastern Conference crown this season is struggling mightily with another three defeats. Peterborough's last victory came on Oct. 28 over Oshawa, a winless streak spanning 10 games. The Petes lead only Barrie for the league's worst record.
Game of the week: Owen Sound Attack vs. Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, Sunday
The Owen Sound Attack will get their chance at redemption after losing last week's game of the week against the Majors on Saturday. Owen Sound needs a statement win against another contender to truly take their status as one of the league's elite. The Attack has not beaten either of the league's top two teams, Mississauga and Saginaw, in either meeting. Mississauga is rolling like the juggernaut it thought to be this season. This game will present yet another in a long line of tests the Majors have already passed so far this season.
Canadian NHL teams' OHL prospects:
Jarred Tinordi, Montreal (London) - drafted 22nd overall in 2010
Tinordi was a minus-1 in two games with the Knights last week. He left Saturday's game against Saginaw late in the third period with an apparent knee injury. He will reportedly miss up to two weeks due to the injury.
Greg McKegg, Toronto (Erie) - drafted 62nd overall in 2010
McKegg helped lead the Otters to four of a possible six points in three games last week. The third-year forward scored a goal in the first two games of the week, a 4-1 win in Peterborough and a 10-3 loss in Oshawa. McKegg is 15th in league scoring with 31 points in 25 games.
Alex Friesen, Vancouver (Niagara) - drafted 172nd overall in 2010
Friesen was held pointless for the second time against Mississauga last week. He picked up two assists in Niagara's 5-3 win over Ottawa on Saturday and is second in team scoring with 25 points in 23 games.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Medicine Hat Tigers
One of the league's most consistent franchises is beginning its climb towards the top. The Tigers are riding a four-game winning-streak with impressive wins over Swift Current and Prince Albert last week. Medicine Hat is tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference standings and within striking distance of Red Deer for second in the Central Division.
Cold team: Lethbridge Hurricanes
The Hurricanes did not begin their home-stand on a positive note. Lethbridge was rocked 9-3 by Prince Albert on Friday then lost 5-3 to Saskatoon the following night. The Hurricanes have lost their last four straight games and appear to be struggling at both ends of the rink. Their travel schedule will be light through Christmas, giving the young team plenty of time to turn it back around.
Game of the week: Kootenay Ice vs. Red Deer Rebels, Tuesday
The Ice begins its long road trip with a tough test in Red Deer. Kootenay holds just a two-point lead on Red Deer for top spot in the Central Division standings heading into the game. The Rebels will have a tough schedule with four games in five days, the last of which coming against B.C. Division-leading Vancouver. With such a tough schedule, both teams will be looking to get the week started on the right foot with a win against their division rivals.
Canadian NHL teams' WHL prospects:
Jared Cowen, Ottawa (Spokane) - drafted ninth overall in 2009
Cowen is beginning to rack up the points in Spokane. The two-way defender assisted on a goal in each game last week and in each of the last four games. He was a minus-3 against Tri-City on Saturday, but has been solid for the most part this season. Cowen's strong play is coming at the right time with Hockey Canada's selection camp coming up next month.
Ryan Howse, Calgary (Chilliwack) - drafted 74th overall in 2009
Howse opened the scoring in a game for the fifth time this season. The fourth-year forward got the game started in Chilliwack's 4-3 win over Tri-City on Friday. He picked up an assist in the Bruins' 3-2 shootout loss to Regina on Saturday and did not score in the shootout.
Tyler Pitlick, Edmonton (Medicine Hat) - drafted 31st overall in 2010
Pitlick held the hot stick last week with three goals and two assists in two games against Swift Current and Prince Albert last week. He scored the insurance goal in each of those wins for the Tigers and is now averaging a point a game. Look for Pitlick to represent Team USA in Buffalo at this year's world juniors.
Brad Ross, Toronto (Portland) - drafted 43rd overall in 2010
Ross picked up two assists in Portland's two games last week. The Winterhawks forward is enjoying a strong season with nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points in 22 games this season. Ross is fourth in team scoring.
Max Reinhart, Calgary (Kootenay) - drafted 64th overall in 2010
Reinhart snapped his three-game pointless streak with a goal and one assist in Kootenay's 6-1 win over Prince Albert on Saturday. He was held off the score sheet in his only other game, a huge tilt with the Saskatoon Blades. The Blades ended the Ice's four-game winning-streak with a 2-1 win.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Saint John Sea Dogs
The Sea Dogs are riding a three-game winning-streak after a 9-7 victory over Maritimes Division-rival Moncton on Sunday. Saint John has won nine of its past 10 games and is beginning to assert itself as the dominant force most expected it would be this season. The Sea Dogs are first in their division and tied for the league lead in points with 40.
Cold team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar
This spot seems reserved for the Drakkar whose winless streak is an embarrassing 25 games. The players should earn respect for the way they have played through the losing streak, but moral victories don't equal points. Baie-Comeau lost 3-1 to Montreal and 3-2 to Gatineau as the Drakkar continue to search for its second win of the season.
Game of the week: Montreal Juniors vs. Shawinigan Cataractes, Friday
The Cataractes are one of the league's hottest teams with nine wins in their last 10 games. Shawinigan is getting it done at both ends of the rink with a solid goaltending tandem of Gabriel Girard and Alex Dubeau. The Cataractes are a surprise addition near the top of the Telus West Division standings this season, as they trail the Juniors by six points with a game in hand. Montreal will need a solid outing to maintain the gap with their new challengers.
Canadian NHL teams' QMJHL prospects:
Louis Leblanc, Montreal (Montreal) - drafted 18th overall in 2009
Leblanc failed to record a point in his only game against Baie-Comeau on Friday. He missed the team's next game against Chicoutimi with a shoulder injury. The injury could be taking a toll as the star forward has just one point in his last four games. Leblanc will be hoping for a speedy recovery if he's going to be available for Team Canada's selection camp in a couple weeks.
Olivier Roy, Edmonton (Acadie-Bathurst) - drafted 133rd overall in 2009
Roy bounced back from an off week with a decisive win in his only start of the week. Roy stopped 31-of-33 shots in Acadie-Bathurst's 4-2 win over the P.E.I. Rocket. He is fifth in league save percentage this season with a .913 rating in 16 games.
Jakub Culek, Ottawa (Rimouski) - drafted 76th overall in 2010
Culek's offensive struggles continued last week. He was a minus-2 in Rimouski's 5-4 win over Drummondville and a plus-3 in his team's 8-2 win over Victoriaville. Culek did not pick up a point in either game and has just two assists in his last 12 games.
Steven Anthony, Vancouver (Saint John) - drafted 187th overall in 2009
Anthony picked up a goal and one assist in Saint John's 9-7 win over Moncton on Sunday. The Sea Dogs had just one game on the schedule after Saturday's game in Bathurst was postponed due to bad weather. Anthony remains fifth in team scoring with 22 points in 19 games.
